ojai blog - news and events in the Ojai community

The Ojai Post

in case you haven't noticed... i'm doing all of my blogging over at The Ojai Post...

Weekend Events in Ojai

Ojai Film Festival - all weekend long at venues around Ojai

Tonight, Friday October 13 - Julie Christensen CD Release at Ourovoros Art Gallery

Saturday, October 14 - Movie: "March of the Penquins" at Krotona Theosophical Society

Saturday, October 14 - From Jail to Jewel: HELP of Ojai Open House at the new HELP West Campus

Saturday, October 14 - The Robben Ford Guitar Clinic at The Womens' Club

Sunday, October 15 - APPLES & MORE! Cooking Class at Lavender Inn / Ojai Culinary School

Monday, October 16 - City Council Candidate's Forum at Chapparal Auditorium

O-Hi Frostie - swan song?

Interesting article on O-Hi Frostie (previous ojaiblog post here) in the VC Reporter.  An excerpt:   

“We want Frostie to be able to stay there until March,” Leary says. “The city would gain revenue and the third party involved, the owner, would be given rent.”

City Manager Jere A. Kersnar, however, stated that the eviction was a private issue between the property owner and his lessee.

“Having said that, we’ve been talking to the operator of the O-Hi Frostie business — assuming he can’t stay where he is — [about] whether there are other places in town where he might be able to relocate, but that’s really up to him.”

But Leary argues, “When people make the statement that if an owner owns a certain piece of property he can do whatever he wants with it, that needs to be qualified.” He continues, “The city can make a public statement that would carry a certain moral and persuasive power … [The city council] have the power to write and to also interpret the rules [which] have to be balanced with public good rights.”

Monte Coffee & Sandwich Co.

Oak View has a great new eatery which I was fortunate enough to stumble upon Saturday.  Monte Coffee & Sandwich Co. is at 595 Ventura Ave., just east of Fred's Tire Co., on the north side of the street.  The decor shows great attention to detail with warm colors, crown molding, working antique street lights and comfortable seating.

The menu features hot sandwiches like a philly cheese steak, grilled tuna and BBQ chicken, cold sandwiches including turkey, roast beef, black forest ham and BLT's, plus wraps, salads, soups, chili, mini pizzas, a kids menu and more.

I had a "Make A Wrap" with freshly grilled chicken breast, swiss cheese, tons of great veggies and a little vinegarette all wrapped up in a spinach tortilla.  It was fresh, delicious and filling.

Monte Coffee is open early, and stays open late.  Call 805-649-9300 for info or just swing on by and give it a try.  Leave a comment if you've been there, and what you had to eat.  I'm looking forward to trying it again in the near future.

Chain Stores invading Ojai?

I posted a story on The Ojai Post regarding a new fast food chain store, Jersey Mike's, opening in Ojai. If you have thoughts, please post a comment over there - the community needs its voice to be heard now, not after a Starbucks and Subway move in.

Ojai Restaurants

It has been awhile, thanks for asking.  I've been rather busy - first with The Ojai Post, which launched March 1 and is going extremely well. And now with a brand new site - Ojai Restaurants.  Check it out, leave a review, let me know if anything needs fixin'.

The Ojai Post

The Ojai Post is a community blog, featuring Ojai residents from all walks of life writing about the unique Ojai experience. Ojai is a special place, not just for its geography, flora and fauna, small-town architecture and rich native American history - its also because of the people - talented, creative souls who tend to walk to the beat of their own drummer and carve their own path through life. Check in for daily musings, rants, Ojai news and greater goings-on from the place some call Shangri-La.

Looks like I picked the wrong day to quit launching websites.  Happy March 1, Ojai.

Feast Bistro of Ojai

I am really looking forward to trying out Ojai's newest eatery, Feast Bistro of Ojai.  I popped in this afternoon, and it looks and smells great.  Some more info from their website follows.  Invitations to lunch or dinner should be left in the comments.  :)

Feast Bistro of Ojai is a bistro-style restaurant where Chef Susan Coulter offers her gourmet New American cuisine which uses the ideas and traditions of classic cuisine as a springboard for her imagination, allowing her to create new dishes by combining locally-grown, seasonal ingredients with the classic techniques that perfect them.

The concept of Feast Bistro was created in 2005 by Chef Susan L. Coulter and Elio Zarmati, an Ojai writer and publisher. Their intention was to fill the gap between high-end restaurants and low-end eateries by offering healthy gourmet food for everyone at affordable prices—a haven for food lovers, affectionately known as foodies, in the Ojai Valley and beyond.

What else is feast bistro?

A wine bar/espresso and tea bar open for patrons to enjoy through the day, at “happy hour” and late into the evening. The finest local wines and beers are served, along with the best fair-trade organic coffees and teas. Mouth-watering Belgian chocolates and pastries from local bakers complete the offering.

A deli and food retail space where customers can buy the finest local food products, including wine, oils and vinegar, mustard, condiments and fine canned foods. A few daily specials in the Take-Out du Jour food section caters to the busy professionals with young families and to anyone not in a mood to cook who wants to eat at home.

A wine tasting bar where local vintners such as Bill Moses of Casa Barranca present their finest wines on a regular basis. Occasionally, local breweries present their beers and tea-makers like Zhena’s Gypsy Teas offer samplings of their finest products.

A cooking school where Chef Susan and a variety of local chefs teach the fine points of gourmet cooking.

A catering service where Chef Susan's numerous fans always enjoy ordering for their weddings and parties.

Visit Ojai: online Ojai visitors guide

As I mentioned in a previous post, I've been putting together The Ojai Network, an online directory for Ojai, which now has about 300 entries, from touristy things to local services.  Following are some links that may help a visitor to Ojai find that perfect romantic hideaway, memorable little restaurant or peaceful hiking spot.

Where to stay in Ojai:
Ojai Hotels, Inns & Spas
Outdoor Ojai Destinations
Private Ojai Destinations

Where to eat in Ojai:
Ojai Restaurants

What to do in Ojai:
Events In Ojai
Ojai Galleries
Music in Ojai
Ojai Theater & Film

Get away from the office and the traffic in sloooojai:
Ojai Healing Destinations
Ojai Healers
Outdoor Recreation in Ojai
Sports & Exercise in Ojai

And certainly some of you will inevitably need these links, so keep this page bookmarked:
Ojai Real Estate Agencies
Ojai Realtors
Ojai Chamber of Commerce

The Ojai Network

A little something I've been working on - the Ojai Network.